It’s a numbers game for Bradley’s Royals

As a physics teacher, Jarrod Bradley knows a lot about numbers. He had plenty of impressive ones to share at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon.

The most important is that his San Marcos boys basketball team is off to an 8-1 start, including a title at the Coast Union Tournament over the weekend. Thayer White was named MVP of the tournament, scoring 16 points in the title game, which was a win over Fresno Hoover High School. This is not a typo — the Royals shot 71-percent from the field as a team in the game. Four different Royals have posted double-doubles this year, and the teams has collected eight in total.

Big man Christian Mkpado is shooting a ridiculous 60-percent from the floor, and Johnny Manzo is an unbelievable 83-percent from beyond the arc. As a team, San Marcos is shooting 51-percent from 2-point range on the year. The Royals are also committing far less turnovers than last season, when they won the Channel League championship.

“My job as assistant coach is to break down film and look at stats, and with the presentation he gave us I was over there taking copious notes,” he joked. “It made my life a lot easier, and I appreciate it. It’s a lot less time I have to spend away from the family.”

It wasn’t an easy week for the Chargers, who lost to an always strong Righetti squad before playing host to national powerhouse Mater Dei. The Monarchs feature three incredible freshmen, including 6-foot-6 14-year-old Shaqaan Harris, who threw down a windmill dunk. Zamora told the crowd that Mater Dei’s coach expects Harris to be an NBA Lottery pick one day. He then introduced players Conner Mansai and Daniel Vickers.

Santa Barbara High’s girls team also won a prestigious tournament title this weekend, taking the crown at the Gold Coast Tournament thanks to stellar showings by Pepperdine-bound Tess Emerson (more on her later).

“In the second half (of the championship game) we shot 65-percent,” noted coach Andrew Butcher. “Jarrod, I’m mad you guys shot 70 for a game, because I thought that would really impress people.”

JUNGLE GYM: Midland School in Los Olivos is a very unique place, featuring a picturesque and rather remote campus. The Oaks have some interesting athletic facilities as well.

“I got an email from their athletic director saying that if parents come they should bring something warm, because the gym only has three walls,” said Laguna Blanca boys basketball coach Sal Rodriguez.

There’s also a synthetic sport-court surface with a lot of dead spots.

“With our guys, the ball would bounce and take off and it would be a turnover. It would just go. Their guys knew where the spots were. They didn’t have any turnovers,” added Rodriguez.

As a result, the Owls fell to the host Oaks, who are obviously a strong team on top of the court considering they are undefeated. Rodriguez introduced senior Spencer Dusebout and starting point guard Logan Elder.

THE REAL McCOY: Bishop Diego’s girls basketball team was running low on numbers last week, so coach Jeff Burich brought up sophomore Josie McCoy from JV for the Fillmore Tournament. She is already the team’s third-leading 3-point shooter, and made a 22-footer in a game, which caused the other team to yell out “Shooter!” every time she came in.

Burich was also accompanied by sophomore point guard Greer Shull, whom he said is a leader on the team despite having six seniors on the roster.

NUTCRACKER: Carpinteria girls soccer coach Lucy Carleton brought along goalie Sally Lam and sophomore Jasmine Montes De Oca. Carleton said she has been “terrified” when Montes De Oca is playing, because she is performing in an upcoming showing of “The Nutcracker.”

“I’m looking forward to her being done with dance, so I can relax a little bit,” said Carleton.

OH, CANADA: UCSB men’s volleyball has impressively defeated Cal State Northridge, UCLA and USC in its fall season. They had a scary moment when star Jeff Menzel hurt his ankle in their last match, but coach Lee ‘The Tree” Nelson said that he should be okay by the time the season rolls around. The Gauchos open up by facing Canadian team Laval on January 4th.

“The only thing I know about Laval is that they’re from Quebec. At least I think they’re from Quebec, because their coach always signs his emails Merci,” said Nelson.

ATHLETES ON WHEELS: There was a special video presentation at the end of the luncheon about Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp, a wonderful organization which allows young athletes between the ages of six and 19 to participate in a variety of sports. The Round Table has been a financial supporter of the program for the past few years, and luncheon attendee Caroline Vance of the San Marcos soccer team has been a volunteer there for two years.

To request information on the program and volunteer opportunities, call Renee Van Hoorn at 569-8999 ext. 82102 or email her at rvanhoor(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)cottagehealthsystem.org.